广姓
The Guang surname, pronounced Guǎng, is a rare Chinese family name with origins traced to the ancient immortal Guangchengzi or the Han Dynasty's Guangwu family. Its ancestral roots are linked to the historic Danyang Commandery. The name is uncommon, not ranking among the top 100 surnames, with descendants now found in regions like Inner Mongolia, Henan, and Guangdong.
Guang Family Name
Family Name: Guǎng, Pronunciation: guǎng
Regions Where the Guang Family Name Is Found
Danyang Commandery: Danyang (Yang) Commandery was established during the Han Dynasty, with its administrative center in Wanning (now Xuancheng, Anhui Province). During the Three Kingdoms period, the state of Wu moved the administrative center to Jianye (now Nanjing). The commandery was abolished after the Sui Dynasty conquered the Chen Dynasty. Emperor Yang of Sui later re-established Danyang Commandery using Jiangzhou (now Nanjing) as its base.
Origin of the Guang Family Name
The origin of the Guǎng family name has two theories:
- It is said to descend from Guangchengzi, an ancient immortal, and the family name Guǎng was taken from his lineage. According to the Han Dynasty text "Feng Su Tong," Guangchengzi was an immortal who lived in a stone chamber on Mount Kongtong. The book "Zhuangzi" mentions that the Yellow Emperor sought his advice on how to harness the essence of heaven and earth to promote the growth of crops and nurture the people, as well as on the principles of self-cultivation. Descendants of Guangchengzi adopted the surname Guǎngcheng or simply Guǎng.
- Another theory suggests that the Guǎng family name originated from the Guangwu family during the Han Dynasty. At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, two individuals named Guangwu Jun (Chen Yu and Li Zuochē) were granted titles; their descendants later adopted the surname Guǎngwu, which was then simplified to Guǎng.
Ancestor of the Family Name
The ancestor of the Guǎng family is Guangchengzi. As recorded in "Feng Su Tong," the Guang family name traces its lineage back to Guangchengzi, with their ancestral home in Danyang. Danyang is a very ancient place name in China, and its location has changed over time. During the pre-Qin period, there were several places named Danyang. After the Han Dynasty established the commandery and county system, many more commanderies and counties were named Danyang. During the Three Kingdoms period, Danyang Commandery was located in the southeast of present-day Nanjing. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, another Danyang Commandery was established in Xiangcheng County, Henan Province. The Sui Dynasty re-established Danyang Commandery in Nanjing. Descendants of Guangchengzi regard him as the progenitor of the Guǎng family name.
Migration and Distribution
The Guǎng family name does not rank among the top 100 most common family names in mainland China or Taiwan. According to legend, Guangchengzi was a virtuous man who lived in seclusion on Mount Kongtong to cultivate his character. The Yellow Emperor often visited him to seek guidance on governing the country. His descendants initially used Guǎngcheng as their surname, which was later simplified to Guǎng. During the Han Dynasty, Li Zuochē, who served as an official in Guangwu (now Yanmen, Henan Province), and Chen Yu also had descendants who used Guǎngwu as their surname, which was later simplified to Guǎng. Over the past 2,000 years, there have been several counties named Danyang. Although the Guǎng family's lineage is associated with Danyang, it is uncertain which specific location in Danyang can be considered their ancestral home. Research suggests that one possible location is present-day Danyang County, Jiangsu Province.
The Guang Family Ancestral Hall and Its Couplets
Common Couplets for the Guang Family Ancestral Hall
- Four-character Couplet: "Served as a Senior Official; A Stele Was Erected in Ganzhou." This couplet refers to Guang Song from Liu'an during the early Ming Dynasty, who served as an official responsible for copying ancient texts in official script and later became a senior secretary in the imperial court.
- Seven-character and Longer Couplets: "A Patriotic and Upright Official in the Founding of the Dynasty; Possessed the Skills of a Military Commander and a Wise Advisor." These couplets honor the contributions of Guang Han from the Song Dynasty, who served as a judge in Ganzhou and was remembered by the people through the erection of a stele in his honor.
The Guǎng family name is a rare one in China, with members currently residing in various regions including Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan. A significant number of Guǎng family members live in Chenghai, Chaoshan, with a community primarily in Dongli Town.
The Guǎng Family Ancestral Hall is a place of reverence for the family's history and traditions.